Curtain stretcher



July 29, 1952 w. JUNGJOHANN CURTAIN STRETCHEIR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FiledAug. 11, 1949 INVENTOR.

W. JUNGJOHANN CURTAIN S July 29, 1952 TRETCHER 2' SHEETS-SHEET 2 FiledAug. 11, 1949 Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURTAINs'raErcimR 7 William Jungjohann, Muscatine, Iowa Application August 11,1949, Serial No. 109,783

8 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a curtain stretcher and has for itsprincipal object the provision of an improved foldable and adjustablestretcher,

preferably of the so called pinless type.

Foldable and adjustable curtain stretchers are, of course, known, butthe various types heretofore proposed have not been commerciallyfeasible, becausethe complicated designs thereof are inherently costlyand the price thereof to the ultimate user is ordinarily so high as tovirtually eliminate them-as competitors of the well known knock downpin-type stretcher. Ifhe disadvantages of the curtain stretcher lastmentioned are well known to those who have been plagued by the problemsofassembly and adjustment thereof in use and the difficulty involved inproperly squaring thecorners so that the stretching of the curtain wouldbe acceptable.

According to the present invention, the preferred-formof stretchercomprises a pair ofelonv,

gated; arallel side rail interconnected by braces or a links andincluding stabilizing means and equalizing means for-maintaining perfectparallelismof the side rails through a range of adjustment sufficientlywide to accommodate the smallest and the largest curtains and likefabric articles. It is an important object of the invention to provideimproved means for maintaining any selected adjustment or spacingbetween the side rails. The invention has for a further feature theprovision of brace members which cooperate with rigid adjusting links toform triangular structures that are both light weight and appropriatelyrigid to space the side rails.

Other objects of the invention are to provide each of the side rails andthe center bar or stabilizer as a. pair of parts interconnected by hingemeans, the hinge means lying on a common axis so that the stretcherframe may be folded about said axis; to provide the adjustabletriangular structures or bracing means with hinges on parallel axesnormal to the hinge axis of the side rails and to mount the apices ofthe triangular structures slidably on the center bar so that as the siderails are moved toward each other the hinges at the apices of thetriangular structures move toward the hinge axis of the side rails,whereby when the frame is folded the aforesaid hinge axe willsubstantially intersect, enabling the entire frame to be folded into acompact structure that will stand by itself and one that 'may be easilycarried and stored.

Still further objects of the invention reside in improved means forminga wire or rod on each side rail so that the curtain may be supported byimproved curtain clamps. The wire or rod structure is made up of aplurality of separate elements secured to the side rail with lengthwiseportions thereof in longitudinal alinement and running lengthwise of theside rail, thus avoid- 2 ing the use of a single wire which is'apt tostretch and yield unless supported at spaced intervals by supports thatare costly and that often result indamage to curtains being stretched.The improved curtain clamps are'preferably in the form of modifiedspring-type clothespins, the m'odification residing in secondary notchesin the clamp jaws for releasably retaining the clamp on the wire, thusavoiding prior knownv designs in which the wire passes permanentlythrough the coiled torsion spring of the clamp;

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable featuresinherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent as acomplete disclosure is made of a preferred embodiment of the inventionin the following detailed description and accompanying sheets ofdrawings in which:

Figure I is a plan view of the stretcher frame.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of: the stretcherframa showing theframe supported in an inclined position by supporting legs.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary'perspective view showing the jointprovided to achieve foldability of one of thesupporting legs."

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line4-4 of, and drawn to the same scale as, Figure 1. V

Figure 5 is afragmentary perspective view. partlyin' section, as viewedgenerally along the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, partly in section,as viewed generally along the line 6--6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line T-l of, anddrawn to the same scale as; Figure 6;

Figure 8' is a perspective view of theintermediate portions of the framestructure, showing the relationship of the hinges as-the frame partsapproach a completely folded position.-

'Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section; asseengenerally along the line B'--9. of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showingaside rail, with oneof. thewire or rod'elements mounted thereon, and a curtain clamp carriedby the Wire element Figure 1-1 is a viewer the curtain clampillustrating the manner in whichit may beremo'ved fromthe wire;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary section 1 view'taken substantially along the"line" [12 of Figure" 10.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of theendbarspassedthrouglithe hem of a curtain.

The frame comprises a pair of side railsl5 and IS and a center orstabilizer bar ll. Adjustable spacing between the side rails ismaintained by a pair of triangular bracing structures, desig 'bracemember 24. 4| which has an apertured ear 42 in which the opposite end ofthe link 38 is received, this end nated generally by the numerals I8 andI9, which cooperate with the center bar H. The center bar carries a pairof slides 28 and 2| for the structures I8 and I9 respectively.

The slide 28 is preferably in the form of a metal clip which receivesthe center bar and which has fixed thereto an upstanding pivot pin 22(Figures 6 and I). The bracing structure I8 comprises a pair of bracemembers 23 and 24 that are hingedly interconnected by the pivot pin 22by means of a hinge 25.

The braces 23 and 24 diverge toward one pair of end portions of the siderails I and I8 and are respectively pivotally connected to the rails bybrackets 26 and 21 and pivots 28 and 29.

The side rails I5 and I8 and the center bar Il lie substantially in thesame plane (Figure 4) The pivots 22, 28 and 29 are parallel to eachother and-normal or perpendicular to the general plane of the side railsand center bar.

the side rails I5 and I6 and are connected to the side rail portionsrespectively by brackets 34 and 35 and pivots 38 and 31.

It will be seen from the description thus far that the spacing betweenthe side rails may be readily varied. As the side rails move toward eachother the slides and 2| will move lengthwise of the center bar I! towardeach other, or toward the center of the center bar; conversely,

'as the side rails are spread the slides 28 and 2| move away from eachother lengthwise of the center bar Hence, adjustment of the lateralspacing between the side rails effects variation in the angles ofdivergence of the braces 23--24 and 3 The fixation of these braces forthe purpose of fixing the lateral spacing between the side rails isaccomplished by a third member in each of the triangular structures I8and I9. This member for the structure I8 comprises a rigid adjustinglink 38 having one end portion bent at right angles, as at 39 (Figure 5)and fitted into a bore 48 in the brace 23. The adjusting link 38 is"thus pivoted at a fixed location on the brace 23 and extendstransversely across to the other The brace 24 carries a clamp having aportion 43 bent at right angles to the link for that purpose. The clampis adjustable lengthwise of the brace24 and any selected positionthereof may be secured by tightening securing means including a bolt 44and wingnut 45. The brace 24 is provided with longitudinally spacedgraduations and numerals to facilitate setting of the clamp, 4| on thebrace and consequently to enable the user to determine the spacingbetween the side rails (see Figures 1 and 5).

The third member that makes up the triangular structure I9 likewisecomprises a rigid adjusting link 48 having ne end pivoted at 4! to the,brace 3| and its other end carried by an adjustable clamp 48 similar tothe clamp 4|. The brace 30 is graduated like the brace 24.

. In order to provide stability for the frame and :to equalize themovement of the braces 30 and 3| as the side rails are being adjusted,the struc- .ture I9 includes equalizing means comprising a slide 48 andlinks 49 and 50. The slide 48 is 59 and a hinge pin 60 (Figure 8).

carried by and is slidable lengthwise of the center bar H. The link 49is pivotally interconnected between the brace 38 and the slide 48; andthe link 50 is pivotally interconnected between the brace 3| and theslide 48. Similar equalizing means could be provided for the structureI8 but in the interest of economy is omitted.

It will be seen from the description thus far that each of thetriangular structures I8 and I9 may be rigidified by its rigid adjustinglink and the spacing between the side rails may be secured on the basisof adjustment of the links 38 and 46 respectively along the braces 24and 38. The center bar I! ties the two triangular structures together sothat the frame cannot diamond; that is, so that the side rails I5 and I8cannot shift lengthwise in opposite directions relative to each other.

The entire frame structure may be compactly folded so that it may beeasily carried and stored. Further, the folded frame may stand uprightby itself. These results are achieved by making provision for thefolding of the side rails and center bars and by tying the foldabilityof these elements in with the hinging of the braces 2324 and 38-3Irespectively about the axes of their pivots 22 and 33.

The side rail |5 comprises two parts |5a and I5b; the side rail I6comprises two parts IBa and IGb; and the center bar comprises two partsI'Ia and I'lb. The side rail parts I5a and I5b are preferably of equallength and their proximate ends are hingedly interconnected by a hinge5|, the axis of which is transverse to the side rails or parallel to thegeneral plane of the frame elements. The proximate ends of the side railparts I5a and I5b are preferably provided with reinforcing blocks 52 and53 respectively. The other side rail parts I61; and I6?) are similarlyinterconnected by a hinge 54 and the rail parts respectively havereinforcing blocks 55 and 55. The hinges 5| and 54 are coaxial.

The center rail parts Ila and Ill) have their proximate inner endsinterconnected by a hinge 57 which comprises a pair of hinge leaves 58and The axis of the hinge 51 is coaxial with the axis of the hinges 5|and 54. Hence, the entire frame structure may be folded about thegeneral transverse axis indicated by the line A-A in Figures 1 and 8.

Inasmuch as the center bar I! slidably carries the slides 20 and 2|,provision must be made for centering the bar so that the axis of thehinge 51 will always be in alinement when the frame is collapsed orfolded. As will best be seen in Figure 8, this result is achieved byarranging the slides 28 and 2| so that they will respectively engage thehinge leaves 59 and 58 as the slides approach each other when the siderails I5 and I8 are moved completely toward each other. The slides 20and 2| and hinge leaves 59 and 58 thus constitute cooperating elementsrespectively on the center bar parts and the triangular structures I8and I9 for maintaining alinement of the axis of the hinge 51 with theaxis of the hinges 5| and 54. It will thus be seen that when the frameis completely folded the pivot pins 22 and 33 will lie substantially ona common axis which is normal to and which substantially intersects theaxis A-A. Opposite ends of the center bar I 1 ,are provided respectivelywith stops 20a and 48a of the slides.

The frame is ordinarily used in the position shown in Figure 2, in whichit is supported at an angle by means of a pair of legs or'props 61' and62 (see also Figure l). The construction of both legs is the same andthe description of the leg 6| will sumce for both. This leg comprises apair ofsections fila. and Gib having their proximate ends pivotallyinterconnected by a bolt" 6-3 and wingnut 35 (Figure 3) so that the'partor section Gib may be folded upwardly to lie alongside the part film.The latterpart is pivotally connected to the side rail part Eta by meansof a bolt and wingnut 65 so that the folded leg may be folded upalongside the side rail. The wingnut 55 may be tightened to'maintaintheleg in either its supporting or folded position. The wingnut 64 may belikewise tightened for either of these purposes. As best shown in Figure3, the lower leg part Gib has fixed thereto an abutment or stop 66 forengagement with theupper leg partfiiawhen the leg in its supportingposition. A chain 5? is interconnectedbetween the'side rail part Mid andthe legti for obvious purposes.

When the frame is inany of its adjusted or extended positions a curtainmay be stretched thereon by means including a pair of wire or rodstructures 68" and 69, mounted respectively on the side rails is and Itand a pair of end or hem bars ill and it carried respectively atopposite ends of the frame.

The upper or' right-hand ends of the side rails respectively carrysupporting blocks i2 and it. Since both blocks are the same onlythe'blo'ck :3 will be described; As best seen in Figure 2 the block '53is provided with a pair of upper and lower slots i l and E5, in each ofwhich a hem bar may .be mounted, thus enabling the frame to carry a'pair of curtains at the same time. Figure 2 shows the hem bar it carriedin the lower 551M775".

The opposite ends of the side rails respectively carry a pair ofadjustable supporting. blocks '56 and T. As best seen in'Figure 2, theblock Tl is provided with upper and lower slots 78 and i9 for receivinga pair of hem bars, the spacing of the slots corresponding with thespacing of the slots in the upper blocks 12 and 73. The other adjustableblock; '55; is, of course, provided with a pair of corresponding slots(not shown). Figure 9' shows the mannerin which the block it isadiustably carried by the side rail I5 and supporting wire or red.structure Eli. This block is apertured at BUIt-o receive a bolt 8| whichhas a hooked end 82. The hooked end receives the wire or rod structureand the opposite end of the bolt is threaded and receives a wingnut 83.The other block ii is similarly carried on the side rail l6 and wire orrod structure. 69, having a hooked bolt 8 and wingnut 85. Thus, theblocks it may be selectively fixed in anyadjusted position toaccommodate curtains of different lengths. Figure 13 shows a curtain atC, having a hem H through which the hem bar it! (I I) may be passed. Thehem bars are made quite long so that end portions thereof may be readilyreceived in the supporting blcclrs-l-ii-lt and 76 with the edges of thecurtainly-ing respectively along the wire or rod structures fi-sandtsrIt isa feature of the invention to provide improved wire orredstructures for supporting the edges of the curtain. The wire or rodstructures 68 and 69* are madeupof aplurality of separate or individualwire or red elements 85. Each of these elements is in the form of a Uhaving a relatively long bight 8? and a pair of legs 88 and 39 dependingtherefrom at right angles thereto.

gases The elements 86 are arranged along the side rail so that thebights 81- are in longitudinal alinement and parallel to the upper edgeof the side rail, being slightly spaced above said edge. Each of thelegs 88, 89 has its free end portion bent at right angles to the leg asat 99 (Figure 10). These portions 98 are driven into or embedded in theside rail and thus serve as meansto mount the elements on the side rail.The leg 88- of one element is closely proximate to or lies alongside theleg 89 of a neighboring element and the two proximate legs so arrangedare further secured to the side rail by additional securing meansincluding a staple or strap member 9! which embraces the two legs andwhich is driven into the side rail (Figures 9, l0 and 12).

The elements 86 are preferably about twelve inches long and being thusrelatively short are individually rigid, yet are so arranged that thebight portions 87 form in effect a substantially continuous wire or rodalong the respective side rail. It will be noted from an examination ofFigures 1 and 2 that the elements 86 proximate to the hinges El, 54 arespaced apart sufficiently to accommodate the hinges.

A further feature of the invention resides in improved means formounting the curtain on the wire or red structures 68 and 59. This meanscomprises a plurality of preferably identical curtain clamps, each ofwhich may take the form of a modified clothespin of the spring type.Such clamp is shown in Figures 10 and 11.

This clamp comprises a pair of complementary parts 92 and 93. Theseparts respectively have jaw portions 54, Q5 and handle portions 98, 3?.A coiled torsion spring 93 has extending legs 99' and ass respectivelyengaging the jaws 9'5 and 95 to maintain the jaws in closed or clampingposition. The important modificationof the springtype clothespin orcurtain clamp resides in the provision of a pair of complementarynotches NH and. H32 respectively in the parts 92 and 93 intermediate thejaws and the torsion spring 98'. Each notch is so dimensioned and shapedas to relatively tightly fit. substantially one-half of the periphery ofthe bight portion 87 of a wire or red element 85, the purpose being toretain the curtain clamp on the wire against displacement both laterallyand lengthwise of the wire when the jaws are closed and even though acurtain is not engaged between the jaws. The torsion spring 63 isoutwardly of the wire and the jaws are inwardly of the wire, when theclamp is mounted on the wire, thus distinguishing from some priorstructures in which the clamp is permanently attached to the: wirebecausethe wire passes through the torsion spring. According to thepresent invention the clamps are removable from the wire or rodstructure and yet may be mounted and retained thereon by means of thenotches WI and I112 without depending on the curtain for support.

The primary characteristic of the curtain stretcher provided accordingto the present invention is that it is of simple design that may beeconomically constructed, that may be easily handled by the user andthat will readily stand hard usage. The adjustability thereof is easilyaccomplished and the relatively rigid interbracing of the side railsassures parallelism between the rails regardless of the spacing'betweenthe rails. The frame may be easily folded into a compact bundle forcarrying and storing. The wire or rod structure 68 and 69 are of simpleand rigid construction and are not likely to be distorted or otherwisedamaged.

The foregoing and other features of the invention not specificallyenumerated above will occur to those versed in the art, as likewise willnumerous modifications and alterations of the preferred form of theinvention illustrated, all of which may be achieved without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A curtain stretcher frame, comprising: a pair of elongated, parallelside rails, each having-first and second opposite end portions; anelongated center bar between and parallel to and lying generally in theplane of the side rails; first and second longitudinally spaced apartslides mounted on and intermediate the ends of the center bar forrelative lengthwise shifting; first and second pivot pins respectivelyfixed to the slides and extending normal to the aforesaid plane; a firstpair of braces hingedly interconnected by and to the first pivot pin anddiverging toward and respectively connected to the first end portions ofthe side rails by pivots parallel to the pivot pins; a second pair ofbraces hingedly interconnected by and to the second pivot pin anddiverging toward and respectively connected to the second end portionsof the side rails by pivots parallel to the aforesaid pivots: a firstadjusting means including a rigid link pivoted at one end to one braceof the first pair on an axis parallel to the aforesaid pivots andextending transversely toward the other brace of said first pair, andmeans for releasably connecting the other end of the link to said otherbrace of the first pair at any one of a plurality of selected pointsspaced lengthwise along said other brace to vary and fix the angle ofdivergence between said braces of the first pair; and a second adjustingmeans similar to said first adjusting means and similarly arranged withrelation to the braces of the second pair.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: eachof the releasable connecting means for the adjusting links comprises aclamp element, securable to said other brace in selected positions asaforesaid, and having an apertured portion for removably receiving saidother end of the adjusting link.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: eachside rail and the center bar comprises two parts interconnected by acentral hinge and the three hinges are coaxial on an axis transverse tothe bar and rails and parallel to the aforesaid plane; and the spacedapart relation of the slides is such that one slide is carried on onecenter bar part and the other slide on the other center bar part withthe center bar part between them.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, further characterized in that: thecenter bar parts and the slides have cooperative elementsinterengageable when the slides approach the center bar hinge to centeror re-aline said center bar hinge with the side rail hinges.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, further characterized in that: thecooperative elements comprise a portion on each slide and a portion oneach half of the center bar hinge engageable with the respective slideportion.

6. The invention defined in claim 4, further characterized in that: theslides and center bar parts have second cooperative elementsinterengageable when the slides approach the free ends of the center barparts to prevent escape of either center bar part from its respectiveslide.

7. A curtain stretcher frame, comprising: a pair of elongated, parallelsi c le rails, each having first and second opposite end portions; anelongated center bar between and parallel to and lying generally in theplane of the side rails; first and second longitudinally spaced apartslides mounted on and intermediate the ends of the center bar forrelative lengthwise shifting; first and second pivot pins respectivelyfixed to the slides and extending normal to the aforesaid plane; a firstpair of braces hingedly interconnected by and to the first pivot pin anddiverging toward and respectively connected to the first end portions ofthe side rails by pivots parallel to the pivot pins; a second pair ofbraces hingedly interconnected by and to the second pivot pin anddiverging toward and respectively connected to the second end portionsof the side rails by pivots parallel to the aforesaid pivots; a firstadjusting means cross-connecting the braces of the first pair to form atriangle therewith and including provision for adjusting and selectivelyfixing the angle of divergence between said braces; and second adjustingmeans cross-connecting the braces of the second pair to form a triangletherewith and including provision for adjusting and selectively fixingthe angle of divergence between said second braces.

8. A curtain stretcher frame, comprising: a pair of elongated, parallelside rails, each having first and second opposite end portions; anelongated center bar between and parallel to and lying generally in theplane of the side rails; first and second longitudinally spaced apartslides mounted on and intermediate the ends of the center bar forrelative lengthwise shifting; first and second pivot pins respectivelyfixed to the slides and extending normal to the aforesaid plane; a firstpair of braces hingedly interconnected by and to the first pivot pin anddiverging toward and respectively connected to the first end portions ofthe side rails by pivots parallel to the pivot pins; a second pair ofbraces hingedly interconnected by and to the second pivot pin anddiverging toward and respectively connected to the second end portionsof the side rails by pivots parallel to the aforesaid pivots; a firstadjusting means for the first pair of braces for adjusting andselectively fixing the angle of divergence between said braces; andsecond adjusting means for the second pair of braces for adjusting andselectively fixing the angle of divergence between said second braces.

WILLIAM JUNGJOHANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 543,644 Chenoweth July 30, 1895596,181 Pierson Dec. 28, 1897 726,703 Koepp Apr. 28, 1903 766,617 HebertAug. 2, 1904 1,035,627 Morley Aug. 13, 1912 1,154,732 Schneider Sept.28, 1915 1,944,019 Vinall Jan. 16, 1934 2,037,991 Mavity Apr. 21, 1936

